SXSW 2011: Weinberg Reviews ATTACK THE BLOCK, COLD SWEAT, KILL LIST, LITTLE DEATHS

Before the last film unreels and the last beer is served tonight at SXSW, I wanted to add my thoughts on four flicks that deserve a little more love.

From my review of Attack the Block, a creature feature from the UK, at Fearnet:

Packed with cliches that arrive with just enough polish, populated by quick-witted and amusing characters who lampoon the stock genre conventions (even while being chased by them!) with impressive consistency, bolstered by some simple but very cool special effects and an infectious musical score, Attack the Block is one of those genre flicks that is plainly inspired by a dozen other flicks, but mashes everything into a whole that ends up strangely ... unique.

From my review of Cold Sweat, a horror thriller from Argentina, at Fearnet:

Frequently loose with logic but admirably fast-paced throughout, Cold Sweat acquits itself quite well in the realm of "fast-paced survival horror that breezes over its silliness through sheer force of suspense, gore, and a consistently slick visual presentation. (One particular explosion in Cold Sweat may soon have you reaching for the rewind button; you'll know it when you see it.)

From my review of Kill List, the second film by Down Terrace director Ben Wheatley, at Fearnet:

Down Terrace is, among many things, admirably unpredictable -- and it's rather cool to note that Wheatley's sophomore follows the same blueprint, only instead of Wheatley's dark humor being weaved through a tale of blue-collar crime, this time it's being wound around a darkly funny and truly surprising horror tale.

From my review of Little Deaths, a British horror anthology, at Fearnet:

As a whole, the flick stands as one of the most unique and challenging horror anthologies in quite some time. The title refers to term "la petite morte," which means "the little death," and is a metaphor for an orgasm. Now that you have that information, or already knew it, you have a good idea of the themes and ideas that are about to be tossed around in Little Deaths. Basically, it's three dark horror tales that deal with human sexuality in some deeply unpleasant ways.